Former Tennessee track and field star Jangy Addy was selected to the Liberian Olympic team, the Liberia National Olympic Committee announced. Addy will represent his parents??? home country in the decathlon, which is scheduled for August 21-22 in Beijing???s National Stadium.??

???I???m very excited and thankful for the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games. The invitation was somewhat unexpected, and I will have to prepare quickly, but I look forward to competing later this month.?????

The Norcross, Ga., native is eligible to represent Liberia because he is a direct descendant of two Liberian citizens. He competed for the United States in the 2004 World Junior Championships but is allowed to compete for Liberia in Beijing because it has been more than three years since he last represented a country in international competition.????

Addy???s best event is the 110m hurdles, where he set a collegiate decathlon record at the 2008 SEC Outdoor Championships. He also holds the world heptathlon record in the 60m hurdles, a mark he set at the 2008 SEC Indoor Championships.??

???Jangy had a great collegiate career at Tennessee and I???m excited he will have the opportunity to compete in Beijing,??? Tennessee track and field coach Bill Webb said. ???He did a fantastic job this year despite battling various injuries. He has two weeks left to tune up, and I???m confident he will represent his family and their heritage with great pride.?????

Addy becomes the fifth former track and field Vol to make an Olympic team. Anthony Famiglietti (steeplechase), Tom Pappas (decathlon) and Leigh Smith (javelin) will compete for the United States. Gary Kikaya (400m) will represent the Democratic Republic of Congo.??

The opening ceremony for the XXIX Olympiad is Friday. The track and field events begin on August 15.